This should have been two different lists: One where characters continued after being recast and the other where they ended a character and introduced a new one...

When an actor dies and they create a new character to fill the void, I wouldn’t use the term “replaced”; I think “succeeded” is a better term.

They are comparing apples to oranges to bananas here. Some of these are replacing an actor to play an existing, established character. Some are replacing a similar character. Some are just simply an entirely new character.

You missed one: Bruce Boxleitner replacing Michael O'Hare on Babylon 5. O'Hare was around season one and was written out due to mental health issues for season 2. O'Hare's character felt cardboard and unnecessarily distant from everyone, and not the type of person you think would be chosen to be a captain. Boxleitner had a completely different take on the captain character: he was personable, he had what appeared to be great chemistry with the cast, and was someone you felt you could relate to.

@sxeptomaniac

7 ай бұрын

True, although later news does partially redeem the late Michael O'Hare in my eyes. Straczynski has said that O'Hare was suffering from a full schizophrenic break, hearing voices among other things, and struggled to keep it together until the end of the season. O'Hare was apparently worried that leaving mid-season would doom the entire series, so he held on until that point. Straczynski has said that O'Hare wanted him to let people know the truth only after his death. May he truly rest in peace.

@protorhinocerator142

7 ай бұрын

I like how they later brought O'Hare back with the Zathras arc and he became Valen.

@voutsider190

5 ай бұрын

He left, because he was sick

I can't say I am a huge fan but I'm starting to think Shannon Doherty was made a scapegoat both on Charmed and on 90210. People who worked on 90210 after she left said the real mean girls on set were Jenny & Tori. Many actresses have talked about stuff they were put through by them with one even losing a job by asking to be cut from the show because Jenny was so horrible to her. As for Charmed, stuff still went down after Shannon left with the finger being pointed at Alyssa. Rose McGowan called her out for her behaviour on set, calling her toxic and two faced and crew members backed her up...yet even now, some claim Shannon was the issue.

@johncameron4194

7 ай бұрын

I agree

@protorhinocerator142

7 ай бұрын

I would have loved to see them bring Doherty back every now and then but they never did. They brought back their dead mother and grandmother several times, but not Prue. They could have done a Power of Four thing.

@EuroMIX2

7 ай бұрын

@@protorhinocerator142 I'm sure if Shannon had left on good terms, they would have, but she was vehemently against them using her image at all in any episode following her departure, so it's extremely unlikely she would have agreed. The show plays this off as it being "too soon" for the other sisters to see her as it would prevent them from properly mourning and moving on (both their Mother and Grandmother had been dead for a while at this point, so for them it wasn't really a problem). It's a decent "excuse" IMO, even if once you know the behind the scenes reason, it's obvious why they had to portray it that way.

@voutsider190

5 ай бұрын

I quit watching after Dougherty left. I hate Milano. And believe you're absolutely right

@rathofturkey

5 ай бұрын

And you can definitely see that in Milano with her pathetic and shameless demeanor today.

After the death of Coach, the set decorator took a photo of Gerinomo that the actor kept in his dressing trailer and hung it on the wall of the bar. In the very last scene of the series, Sam straightens the photo before turning out the lights and walking out.

@brianartillery

8 ай бұрын

Yeah. I 'Got something in my eye' when I watched that.

@joeyblowinski6116

8 ай бұрын

In the last episode of Ted Lasso, May the bartender straightens the same picture and then when it smash cuts to Trent the first word out of his mouth is, "Cheers!" George Wendt is the real life uncle of Jason Sudekis.

@remohj

7 ай бұрын

I love Woody. Coach was better. Hard to believe he was only 61 when he died.

Jennifer Lien leaving had nothing to do with the actress's "problems." The producers initially were going to fire Garrett Wang (Harry Kim) to make room for Seven Of Nine. However, People magazine named him one of their "sexiest people alive" that year, so they decided to fire Jennifer Lien instead.

@TodaysDante

8 ай бұрын

Wow, didn't know that. I initially thought they just got rid of her because they setup that she had a very short life span and just needed to get rid of her before her character died of old age.

@deborahblackvideoediting8697

8 ай бұрын

I was surprised they said that. Sadly, Lien apparently suffered from mental health problems later in life, but that wasn't why she was let go from the show. Like you said, is was supposed to be Wang. It never made sense that they kept Harry, yet failed to develop his character in any meaningful way. With her powers, Kes had a lot of potential for growth and change. I was sad to see her go. (However, Seven turned out to be one of my all-time favourite Star Trek characters. Her and The Doctor continued to change and develop wonderfully throughout the rest of the series.)

@mitchellmelkin4078

8 ай бұрын

​@@deborahblackvideoediting8697, No, as I believe the Voyager Celebration book, released 3 years ago, makes pretty definitively clear, Lien was fired because her cascading mental health problems (possibly augmented by drug use) had made her an unreliable on-set presence. A section of the book is devoted to the issue, quoting Jeri Taylor and members of the cast not previously publicly quoted on the matter. It's a real tragedy, IMO, during an age when that description is very loosely thrown around, as Lien's talents were instinctive and extraordinary, as affirmed by all of her cast mates. She was extended the possibility of professional help by the showrunners, but not surprisingly, as she kept her personal life so insular and isolated from others, it was declined, finally leaving them no choice but to sever her connection to the production. The People magazine list rationale had become the widely accepted reason for many years, but the revelations contained in the book above, appear to have finally put that speculation to rest. It sounds as if both Wang and Lien were concurrently at risk, but not because of budgetary restraints, and the former wasn't 'saved' by his inclusion (pretty far down, as it happens) in an ephemeral poll which if not for Lien's having left the show, would have been quickly forgotten as the celebrity culture flotsam it represents.

@mitchellmelkin4078

8 ай бұрын

@davidharrington5413, As I've detailed above, while the narrative you related had become the default rationale accepted for the situation, that speculation has been dispatched by a much more authoritative accounting which I think is pretty compelling. You needn't have to purchase the book, as you can find a number of pieces online which detail it, as well as possibly even being able to pull up the relevant section of the publication.

@ealeana3569

7 ай бұрын

@@deborahblackvideoediting8697 Harry Kim was always my favorite character (I had a bit of a crush), and I was always so sad that he never got the recognition that the other characters got. Even Garrett Wang said the same thing... at the end of the show, when he *didn't* get a promotion and he was *still* an ensign, he was told, "Well, someone's got to be the ensign." Seriously??? They had other minor characters that were ensigns! It was ridiculous, cause you know, if it was real, Harry *would* have been promoted at least once at some point. LOL, sorry, it's always been a pet peeve of mine.

A bit before the time of most folks here but I'd say the 3 actors/characters that replaced Col. Henry Blake, Capt. Trapper John McIntyre and Maj. Frank Burns on M.A.S.H. all turned in great performances that made for memorable characters.

@katherineheasley6196

8 ай бұрын

Yeah. Col. Potter was a more complex character than Col. Blake, BJ was a more complex character than Trapper John, and Charles Emerson Winchester was way more complex than Frank Burns. Each one made the show more three-dimensional.

@RealScotticus

8 ай бұрын

They took a real swing, and an unusual step, in taking more wacky, traditionally comedic characters in MASH and replacing them with more 'straight men' types. And it worked really well!

I can only imagine a world when Andy Whitfield being able to stay on Spartacus. Andy conveyed so much emotion in that first season.

@DavidGowers

7 ай бұрын

I feel like Sam Worthington owes his entire 'career' to Andy Whitfield's death as they look similar (though Andy was always more slender) and Sam can't really act. If Andy hadn't died, not only would Spartacus have stayed as good as the first season, but he'd have had a bloody good career outside of/after it.

@Deathstroke4200

7 ай бұрын

@@DavidGowers It was Liam McIntyre who replaced Andy Whitfield. Although Worthington is Australian

@DavidGowers

6 ай бұрын

@Deathstroke4200 I know that, I mentioned that show because he wasn't as good as Andy, not because I thought Sam was in it. I should have been clearer about that, my apologies.

Uncle Albert replacing Grandad in 'Only Fools and Horses!' Yeah, it might be an oldie, but the show was definitely big enough in the UK to count. Grandad was of course iconic in his dopeyness and love for Del and Rodney, but when the actor who played him, Lennard Pearce, passed away, the show made the decision not to recast another actor in the role, but to instead bring in his long-lost brother Albert (played by the wonderfully-named Buster Merryfield,) to come and live with his nephews. He was a very different character from Grandad, but hilarious in other ways, with the ongoing gag about every one of his war stories seeming to result in him being a harbinger of bad luck to all the others around him.

@obadiahvondeath8048

8 ай бұрын

i was just thinking of Grandad and Uncle Albert! it was a bold move to keep going with a brand new character, but Only Fools became even more successful with Albert. i've heard there was an idea kicking around to bring an Auntie in, but David Jason pointed out how could they treat an old lady like they treated Grandad? i love both of them, buit think i like Grandad a little bit more, because he's more of an old git!

I feel the reason Woody “replacing” Coach works so well is that it evolved the show. Coach was the old, funny character but he also would deliver bits of wisdom to Sam and the rest. And before Woody, Sam was just a self absorbed playboy Woody came in as the fresh face farm boy forcing Sam to become that “wise man” giving advice to Woody and eventually becoming the “best friend bartender” everyone wants If Coach hadn’t passed, I don’t know if Sam’s character develops and Cheers lasts for a decade+

MASH: Both B.J. Hunnicutt and Charles Emerson Winchester III

@jayahess4656

4 ай бұрын

I will always prefer Trapper and Frank. Not that BJ and Charles are bad, but I don't feel they were an improvement.

Number one should be doctor who since it saved the show from ending

The bailiffs from Night Court. All three ladies were amazing in the roles.

You missed a great replacement. At the start of season 6 of MASH, David Ogden Stiers as Major Charles Emerson Winchester replaced Larry Linville as Major Frank Burns. Major Winchester was a much better and more complex character than Major Burns.

@jeannehall6546

8 ай бұрын

Not to mention Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman Potter replacing McLean Stevenson as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake.

@gryphman

8 ай бұрын

Major Winchester is probably one of my all time favorite tv performances. Such a complex character in a time when that sort of thing was exceedingly rare. David Ogden Stiers did an amazing job shifting between antagonist and protagonist. Sometimes within the same episode.

@bobross1829

8 ай бұрын

Yep, I cannot believe they missed the MASH ones. They wanted a more complex foil for Hawkeye that could actually sometimes "beat" him where Frank Burns was just a caricature of a bad guy who always lost and was always in the wrong.

@deborahblackvideoediting8697

8 ай бұрын

I completely agree! I always found Burns to be cartoonish and annoying, whereas Winchester became a much more complex and empathetic character than Burns.

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

Completely different dynamic however. Major Burns was the stiff-necked, spit-shined military man oddball that didn't fit with his playful anti-military rebellious roommates. "The Pros from Dover." Great contrast providing lots of drama. Winchester quickly became friends with Hawkeye and Farrell, and was more like them.

M*A*S*H did this three times. McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers and Larry Linville were replaced with Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell and David Ogde Stiers and each replacement elevated the show. I know I'm in the minority here, but I preferred Ezri Dax to Jadzia Dax on DS9. I always felt like Jadzia had this aloof smugness to her while Ezri was more empathetic and approachable. It didn't hurt that I also thought Nicole DeBoer was cuter than Terry Farrell.

@alanfuller4278

8 ай бұрын

I'm sure M*A*S*H will be in the next countdown

@joeyblowinski6116

8 ай бұрын

You are most DEFINITELY in the minority!

@Brinta3

8 ай бұрын

Harry Morgan’s and David Ogden Stiers’s characters made the show different: more serious, but not necessarily better. I personally hated B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell). The character was boring, always moaning about his family, and Farrell just isn’t a comedic actor. The guy can’t deliver a funny line even if it were written by (insert name of your favourite comedian) himself.

@andrewmurray1550

8 ай бұрын

well considering Jadzia dax was carrying at least 7 life-times of memories, that is not surprising.

@Smenkhaare

7 ай бұрын

After season one when they got rid of all of the legacy characters from the MASH movie, TV MASH became the Alan Alda show. It was good but never to the level of the movie.@@Brinta3

You may have missed the biggest one of them all: Patrick Troughton replacing William Hartnell in the lead role in "Doctor Who".

@williammitchell4417

8 ай бұрын

Yes and no. It was a way for the BBC to keep the series going without replacing the star of the show. Unlike say Sandy Duncan replacing Valerie Harper.

@jaygee6738

8 ай бұрын

Doesn't the doctor get replaced on a semi regular basis?

@williammitchell4417

8 ай бұрын

@@jaygee6738 unfortunately he does now. Bill however was the first.

@julianaylor4351

8 ай бұрын

The first use of regeneration on Dr Who. Invented because William Hartnell was too unwell, to carry on with a regular television role. He did do limited stage work after leaving, but was forced to retire. His last appearance in the Three Doctors, was recorded at his home and edited into the story via a view screen appearance, which Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and John Levene had to react to.

@andrewmurray1550

8 ай бұрын

@@williammitchell4417 that's the point they DID change "the star of the show" in Doctor Who - coming up on 15 times (or 14 if you don't count David Tennant's 2nd tenure). Was it an after-thought that they would use regeneration to explain the recasting of the lead role.

The problem with the majority of this list is that it's from shows that aired from 2000 onwards. There are many shows (pre 2000) where the replacement actor proved as popular/successful as their predecessor. 1) M*A*S*H - This show set the template where well liked characters were succeed by well liked replacements 2) Charlie's Angels - The departure of Farrah Fawcett (who was the breakout star) could have ended that series if said replacement bombed with audiences. Enter Cheryl Ladd and the rest is history 3) Night Court - This show underwent a huge turnover in cast during its early seasons (with multiple coming and goings). However, the replacements that did come on board helped strengthen the show and made it better 4) Law & Order and NYPD Blue: The ever revolving cast lineup did not hurt these shows at all. In fact, both series proved they can weather these changes successfully and still go the distance.

@peachysbaby3088

8 ай бұрын

Once Brisco and then greene left law and order, I lost interest

As far as 'unspecified reasons', Jennifer Lien had to leave 'Star Trek: Voyager" due to a psychological breakdown. Something that had brewing for a while. Have to admit I've always liked the character, and, the actor. Good to see the fans didn't just roll over when Seven of Nine showed up. She ended up being one of the more interesting characters, but, Kes was definitely missed.

@johncameron4194

7 ай бұрын

I liked kes

@balldalt

7 ай бұрын

I loved Kes. Her return episode was a travesty.

@eolsunder

7 ай бұрын

She was a boring character and deserved to go. 7 was much more interesting, animated and of course sexier. There wasn't anything about Kes that i liked at all except for one episode that she was in. When she came back, it was just like watching a bad actress try to act. There is a reason she didn't become a big star.The Brie Larson of star trek.

@meridianx9020

7 ай бұрын

​@@eolsunder god, yes. I hated the Kes character, she was so goody-two-shoes and BORING.

From your bit about Seven/Kes - "This resulted in a new lead woman character" - Neither were ever the lead, either female or otherwise.

@Pfisiar22

8 ай бұрын

Not 'the' lead, but certainly a lead. Seven was certainly a leading character during her time on the show. It was reasonable to assume she'd appear in any given episode of any season where she was part of the cast.

Liam McIntyre finally getting some recognition. Well, to be honest, I had some doubts at the beginning as well, Andy did such a terrific job as Spartacus, but Liam was great too.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend recasted Santino Fontana, a series regular for the 1st 2 seasons, with Skylar Astin for season 4. The recasting was addressed creatively in the show, probably the only show to have addressed a recast like so. Not having it in your list proves how underrated the show was.

@nikg6232

8 ай бұрын

Especially when they talk about it in the live show!

@nullunit2830

8 ай бұрын

I was hoping this one would be mentioned! And was disappointed

@jamesscott305

7 ай бұрын

I loved the meta jokes about the change in actor, but I still prefer Santino….

I completely agree that seasons 5 and 6 of Community were deeply underrated. I love the entire Hickey D&D episode (and his whole arc, honestly), the departure of Troy was handled in an appropriately heartbreaking way, Keith David is a bonkers joy, you got some really fun development on some of the peripheral characters, and the finale literally made me cry.

Dick Sargent replacing Dick York. You'd think more people would notice swapping Dicks like that.

@marianparoo1544

8 ай бұрын

Of course everyone did. I liked the second one more.

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

heh heh heh heh heh mmheh, hey Butthead, you said swapping dicks

@DavidGowers

7 ай бұрын

One of my favourite results of that swap was during the Becky Swap on Roseanne. One of the post-credit scenes had them watching Bewitched and the new Becky - Sarah Chalke - comments on the swap with something like "do they really think people aren't gonna notice something like that?"

No-one can replace Shannon Doherty

Now do Worst Actor replacement on a hit TV show.

Maybe this was too before your time, but Jimmy Smits replacing David Caruso in NYPD Blue during season 2 was a great decision for the show and the mental health of cast and crew. Smits’ eventual departure was one of the most heartbreaking on tv.

@owie4070

8 ай бұрын

Agreed

@IrishScribbler

8 ай бұрын

I hear that there was also a lot more room on-set during season 2 as the cast no longer had to compete with the size of Caruso’s mammoth ego.

@dicksonfranssen

8 ай бұрын

the best description I've ever read about Caruso's decision to leave the show was that his career "took off like a rocket....into the side of a mountain". I'm sorry for bringing this up but CSI Miami?

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

@@dicksonfranssen Caruso matured after his post NYPD Blue crash and was great in CSI Miami.

@dicksonfranssen

8 ай бұрын

@@DaryMatera I didn't want to sound like I was happy he failed at something but that's probably how it came out. If he's smart, and I know he is, he's banked enough money to never have to work again. CSI Miami just wasn't my thing but it was more the writing than anything else. Too bad I don't have a tape of my only TV appearance, a kid's TV show in 1963 where the host was the same guy who later did the sports and the weather.

Jennifer Lien (pronounced: lean) was said to be already displaying signs of mental illness and, depending on who’s being talked to, either got fired or quit “Star Trek: Voyager”. She was a good actress, but apparently just couldn’t continue. Jeri Ryan, who replaced Lien, yes, there was a fear she would be seen as “eye candy (Kate Mulgrew was very afraid of this and this caused a lot of tension between the two. Also, her first husband, Jack Ryan, tried to get her to do sexual acts in public in order to help him get elected to the Senate. She refused, divorced him, and Jack’s potential political career was over.)”, but it turned out Ryan was an exceptional actress! She has since gone on to star in “Boston Legal,” “Shark,” and “Star Trek: Picard.”

@Ceares

8 ай бұрын

lets not forget Leverage, where, huh, she was a fantastic temporary replacement for Gina Bellman.

@newageBoundhippie

8 ай бұрын

@@Ceares I loved her in Leverage! I really hope we get a 3rd season of Leverage: Redemption & get her to come back as Tara as well as getting Mark Sheppard back as Sterling

Ted McGinley replacing David Garrison on MWC.

@toddnolastname4485

7 ай бұрын

But how about him replacing Richie in Happy Days? After being added as a new character to Love Boat.

@xandercrews4729

7 ай бұрын

@@toddnolastname4485 that’s before my time

Speaking of Star Trek Voyager, don't forget Kate Mulgrew replaced Genevieve Bujold whilst filming the pilot episode. Huge improvement.

Edward Hardwicke as "Dr. Watson" ("Sherlock Holmes" with Jeremy Brett). Marsha Warfield in "Night Court"!!!.

@user-hx6ye4jq1n

8 ай бұрын

They replaced the female baliff 2 times because the first 2 actresses who played them both died.

I can't believe that you missed M*A*S*H. They replaced 3 major characters and each time it was an upgrade. Mike Farrell (B. J. Hunnicutt) replaced Wayne Rogers ('Trapper John'), Harry Morgan (Sherman T. Potter) replaced McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake), David Ogden Stiers (Charles Emerson Winchester III) replaced Larry Linville (Frank Burns). The characters and the series were much more interesting and enjoyable to watch with each replacement. I doubt that any other series has successfully replaced 3 major characters like M*A*S*H did.

@deborahblackvideoediting8697

8 ай бұрын

Agreed! I greatly preferred all three replacements, especially Winchester, who was a more complex and nuanced character than Burns.

@joeyblowinski6116

8 ай бұрын

Night Court did. In fact they replaced 5 main cast characters. Only Harry, Dan, and Bull were there from start to finish.

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

@@deborahblackvideoediting8697 Disagree. I preferred the three originals over their replacements. The MASH series was so well written that the new lessor actors, who were all more restrained and less quirky than their predecessors, still fit in well.

@deborahblackvideoediting8697

8 ай бұрын

@@DaryMatera - I totally respect your difference of opinion. But we both agree on the fact that it was a very well written show! :)

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

@@joeyblowinski6116 they replaced some characters several times

Woody and The Coach were pretty much equal, both were perfectly entertaining characters, especially when Woody would cop an attitude.

Harry Morgan in place of McLean Stevenson in MASH and Edward James Olmos in place of Gregory Sierra in Miami Vice. Both shows original "boss" character's, Henry Blake and Lou Rodregiuz, were very thinly written with not a lot to their characters. Replaced by Sherman Potter and Martin Castillo far deeper and interesting characters who were well written and played with real passion by their actors (Castillo especially, with Olmos changing the Police Boss archetype mould from a million tv shows and movies beforehand and smashing it to bit to completely re-invent it)

on the show Beverly Hills 90210, There are many times when they did this, first was when Shannon Doherty left the series, she was replaced by Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, then when Gabrielle Carteris left the series they brought in Hillary Swank for just 1 season. Then they brought in a few new faces for a few seasons after Luke Perry left for a few seasons.

@marianparoo1544

8 ай бұрын

Swank proved she had been better things to do!

I think Seven of nine was the best replacement cos it also coincided as the exact moment the show improved too so much more action the borg ect

Missed a lot. As was already mentioned in previous comments: MASH, Charlie's Angels, Three's Company. But how did you miss Darren of Bewitched first played by Dick York then replaced by Dick Sargent? That was major back then.

@sureshmukhi2316

8 ай бұрын

Also, missed opportunity for a major pun...regarding two dicks. 😂

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

I never could tell those guys apart

@sureshmukhi2316

7 ай бұрын

@@SpamEggSausage which guys?

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

@@sureshmukhi2316 the two Darens

@sureshmukhi2316

7 ай бұрын

@@SpamEggSausage seriously? They may look like brothers but they are different.

The daughter in til death was played by four different actresses, with zero explanation until it became a running joke

You missed Kate Mulgrew replacing Genevieve Bujold as Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek Voyager.

@user-hx6ye4jq1n

8 ай бұрын

After Ms bujold had only worked for 3 days, she realized that filming a TV series was a lot different that stage work or filming a movie and abruptly quit

@dicksonfranssen

8 ай бұрын

I can confirm that. Bujold walked away before she was asked to so she was never "replaced".

@catherineford6741

8 ай бұрын

@@dicksonfranssen there is footage of her as Captain Janeway in uniform & doing scenes.

@andrewmurray1550

8 ай бұрын

Genevieve Bujold dropped out and none of her episodes ever went to air, it's not like they made "Caretaker" and then the very next ep Janeway was Kate Mulgrew without explanation. Similarly, back to the Future had a cast change (Marty McFly). Originally was Eric Stolz (but apparently only because Michael J Fox was otherwise committed to Family Ties). In the end he managed both.

@Willpower-74205

7 ай бұрын

The reason Mulgrew had blown the Janeway audition the first time was because she was suffering from a cold and wasn't able to bring her A-game. She was feeling much better after Bujold quit and quickly seized the second chance at the role. 🖖😎👍

Here's one you didn't consider. When Farrah Fawcett (Majors) wanted a film career, her character Jill Munroe was written off "Charlie's Angels" by making her a race car driver. They replaced her with Cheryl Ladd as Jill's younger sister, Kris. Cheryl absolutely improved the series.

What about all the new "Doctors" in "Dr. Who" And Henry Morgan replacing McLean Stevenson and David Ogden Stiers replacing Larry Linville in M*A*S*H

Dont do that whatculture, Paige was good, but no one could replace Prue.

How about when Tamara Taylor replaced Jonathan Adams on “Bones”? Or those revolving doors of “squinterns” who replaced Eric Milligan?

@joenesvick7043

7 ай бұрын

I definitely love Tamara Taylor more than her predecessor

@eolsunder

7 ай бұрын

me also, not only super good looking but she did a great job. Oh such a crush on that woman. @@joenesvick7043

After the first season, the Facts of Life had a major cast overhaul. It was decided that the ensemble cast, which consisted of 7 student characters and 3 adult characters, was way too big. Two adult actors were let go as well four young actress who played the students. The character of Mrs. Garret remained because it was Charlotte Rae’s show, while the characters of Blair, Natalie, and Tootie were retained because they were the most memorable of the 7 girls. Technically 5 fired characters were then successfully replaced with just one character. Nancy McKeon was brought in as Jo Polniaczek, a foil for Lisa Welchel’s Blair. A young Molly Ringwald was one of the 4 actresses to be released, and never forgave the show.

I would say the replacement of Christopher Pike in Star Trek TOS with James T Kirk was also a great move.

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

Classic switch. They considered replacing Pike with Jack Lord of Hawaii 5-0 fame as well.

@julianaylor4351

8 ай бұрын

Christopher Pike has now be portrayed by four different actors and James Kirk by three.

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

@@julianaylor4351 What shows had three Christopher Pikes?

@julianaylor4351

8 ай бұрын

@@DaryMatera The original Pike in the original pilot, the Brave New Worlds Pike, the injured Pike in The Menagerie, from the original series, which uses the pilot footage and the Pike in the J J Abrams films. Kirk is the original, the Brave New Worlds Kirk and the J J Abrams Kirk. Also in the original series William Shatner played dead as his brother Sam, who appears played by another actor in Brave New Worlds.

@DaryMatera

8 ай бұрын

@@julianaylor4351 The original Pike in the pilot, and the injured Pike in The Menagerie, were played by the same actor, Jeffrey Hunter. As you say they use pilot footage. Are you saying the new scenes with the messed up Pike in the wheelchair was another actor? That makes sense. Brave New World is an off network streaming series? Paramount Plus or something?

This is Ewan's most soulless narration ever

Only fools and horses replacing Grandad with Uncle Albert. Stargate SG1 replacing Daniel Jackson with Jonas Quinn

@craigh5236

8 ай бұрын

Replacing O'Neill with Mitchell. Although that was for good reason, RDA had health problems at the time.

@gergelykocsis9520

8 ай бұрын

​@@craigh5236 Ooooooh!... I never understood why would they do that... (honestly never thought RDA would leave the role either).

Very good list. Totally agree with number 1. Coach and Woody are terrific characters, each in their own right.

Laurence Fishburne replacing William Petersen in CSI: kinda broke my heart 😢

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

me too. Laurence Fishburne is a good actor and all but the character he played on CSI was too boring

@PaulMcElligott

Ай бұрын

By the time Petersen left, the show was well past its prime. They should have ended it after his departure.

Since we're on the subject of Rob Lowe, how about Joshua Malina replacing Rob Lowe on West Wing? Not only did he successfully fill the "quirky energy" void Lowe left, his counterpoint to Richard Schiff's Toby was a joy to watch

In Stargate Sg1's 7th season Dr. Weir was played by Jessica Steen, but when the character was getting a full time roll in a spin off series they went with Torri Higginson for the character

@angrytvrobot6130

8 ай бұрын

I'm torn on this one. On one hand Jessica Steen did a good job in those two episodes. On the other I've only seen Higginson in the role full-time, so she's the standard Dr. Weir for me. I think they both did a good job of "Holy crap what have I gotten myself into. Oh well let's take charge."

Three's Company had some amazing replacements in it's run. The characters of Terri Ralph Furley were great additions to the show.

I watch WhatCulture all the time, and almost never leave a comment, but... Y'all nailed it this time! 10/10! 100%! Well done! and Thank you!

5:48 It's the only one that happened before the show even premiered. The role of Kathryn Janeway was changed before Voyager premiered. They had some woman who wasn't even close to being Janewayish enough. They had to reshoot a bunch of scenes.

If we're going 80 sitcoms then you have to include Night Court and Marsha Warfield. Okay, Jeri Ryan as a temp replacement for Gina Bellman in Leverage. Her Tara Reid was terrific and different enough from Sophie that she changed the dynamics of the team.

Since we never saw Frank Langella in Usher, I would have picked Michel Huisman replacing what's his name in Game of Thrones.

Rainbow Sun Francks replacement with Jason Momoa in Stargate - Atlantis??? I know Francks' Lt. Ford returns later as a villain, but only in a few episodes. They even switches places in the same episode. I know Ronan was meant to repeat the Tea'lc formula, but I believe he made the role his own and could freshen the often same tropes.... He didn't feel like the "Tea'lc at home".

@toddnolastname4485

7 ай бұрын

I didn't care for Momoa's character. 'Cause he really didn't have much character. Ford was more interesting, but they didn't give him anything to do, until they did, and ruined his character in doing so.

One good recasting you didn't mention is when Pat Priest replaced Beverley Owen on The Munsters. Beverley was good, but if you watch them you can see Beverley's sadness of not wanting to be on the series, come through. You should do a bad recasting if you haven't already. One example of bad recasting is when Dick Sargent replaced Dick York on Bewitched.

@toddnolastname4485

7 ай бұрын

I thought the second Darren was an upgrade. The first had no business winning a woman like Elizabeth Montgomery.

Remembered Jennifer Lien from American History X and Men in black animated series as agent L.

Chevy Chase was brilliant in Community and none of the replacements for that show could hold a candle to the original cast.

I dont think the replacements of chevy where that good Mike from breaking bad just played mike from breaking bad and elroy was never funny

Along with Patrick troughton replacing William hartnell as dr who and saving the show, the original ly Columbo on television was played by Bert freed. As good as freed was, replacing him with Peter falk was a pure stroke of genius.

The Spartacus recasting is a perfect exmple of meeping visul consistency. They almost look alike.

Cheers struck lightening twice with Woody and Rebecca.

Season 5&6 of Community are fantastic, and to make them.work with such radical cast changes is just incredible. Seasons 2&3 are just the absolute best, utterly incredible. Harmon-less S4 just fails on every level and you can why people switched off, but there's just so many great eps and moments when it comes back. Frankie's speech to The Dean after his Honda splurg remains a comedy highlight of all time!

I don't think anyone noticed Becky being replaced on Rosanne

@SpamEggSausage

7 ай бұрын

the new Becky was too old, she looked more like Roseanne's sister than her daughter

P.S. Its not just that I agree on all counts - whoever wrote the dialog/narration really hit the mark with poignancy and tone! Thanks again!

Love your content guys

Couple of other examples: Cote de Pablo replacing Sasha Alexander in NCIS. There were many changes in the Law & Order cast over the years, but Jerry Orbach coming in to replace Paul Sorvino was probably one of the best replacements in TV history.

One of my favorites: the late Michael Norell replacing John Smith (Smith himself replacing Dick Hammer [Richard Hammer played himself as that character]) for season 2 of Emergency! (1972-73); Norell truly made the character of Capt. Hank Stanley of Station 51 his own for the remainder of the run of that NBC medical/action series (1972-77), because he was very much calm under fire, and knew how to run a railroad when it came to directing the men who worked under him at fire and rescue scenes (especially firefighters/paramedics John Gage and Roy DeSoto [Mantooth and Tighe respectively]).

I liked Rose Mcgowan, but for me the best seasons were the first 3 with Shannen Doherty.

6: Jeri Ryan replaces Jennifer Lien. The character of Seven of Nine was planned before Kes's departure was set, in fact before they started shooting the fourth season it was not the Kes that was supposed to depart the show. It was the character of Ensign Harry Kim, played by Garrett Wang, which is why his character was affected by Alien cells that were destroying his own. However, during the time between seasons three and four Garrett Wang was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. So they said 'Well we can't kill him off now, but we have to cut someone loose' and Jennifer Lien's Kes got the ax.

Another replaced before the television series was first shown. Later to be the Eighth Doctor and Lieutenant Bush in Hornblower, Paul McGann, who broke his leg during filming of the first series of Sharpe, in an off set accident and had to replaced by Sean Bean, later to be Boromir in The Lord Of The Rings films, 006 in Goldeneye and Ned Stark in Game Of Thrones. Sharpe is the series where Sean Bean's role Richard Sharpe does get injured, but not killed, while rising from sergeant to lieutenant colonel, in the 95th Rifles regiment in the British army, of the Napoleonic wars; unlike in many of his other roles. In fact when he was the recaste lead, he had a facial injury from a stunt accident with Harrison Ford on Patriot Games. He later injured his hand in a scene from Sharpe's Regiment, while filming in an Essex nature reserve and had to go to Clacton General Hospital. Lucky nurses.

All the new police deceive partners of Sipowicz on NYBD Blue were excellent and seamlessly fit into the show. And there were four of them. Former child actor Ricky Schroder's brief three season stint as a troubled and haunted young detective was one of the most powerful. Same for the multiple detectives in all the Law and Order series. Also worth noting is that Dirk Benedict wasn't the original Face in the A-Team pilot. He replaced the long forgotten original Face and played the part perfectly with great Faceman con artist charisma.

7 of 9 didn't just become iconic, she's the Captain of the Enterprise-F

@arbjbornk

7 ай бұрын

Titan-A/Enterprise-G

Arthur Anderson Replaced Lionel G. Wilson Courage The Cowardly Dog now both are dead alongside Thea White who voiced Muriel Bagge

Keith David was a fine "replacement" in the role of "old man of the group", though he was definitely no Chevy Chase. Jonathan Banks was totally out of place and the fact that he was in Community's worst season, certainly didn't help...

Int he Expanse, the Character of Arjun saw a dramatic character change from the Soft spoken and teddy bear portrayal by Brian George to the Straight to the point Professor played by Michael Benyaer.

I don't watch Community but I'll give you rhat validation dang nammit!😂

No doctor who regeneration ? I mean not only was Patrick Troughton an amazing replacement to William Hartnell, giving a very different incarnation of the same character, but the brilliant regeneration idea carried the show up to this day. I don't see how you can top that.

I'll give you two big reasons why Jeri replaced Jennifer on STV.... I can't think of it now....🤔

In my opinion, Jennifer Lien was good eat as Kes. She just shovel ed herself into a bad state. I really would have liked to see how her arc would have come out if she hadn't been ejected from Voyager.

I'll add Larry Linville - who played Frank Burns - being replaced by David Ogden Stiers in M*A*S*H. Linville was fantastic as the foil to Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers, but his character was one dimensional as the incompetent and accident prone surgeon and didn't have any possible growth as he lacked the self-awareness to improve. Having David Ogden Stiers play the more nuanced character of Major Charles Winchester meant the pratfall comedy was phased out of the show in favour of the more subtle, dark humour that M*A*S*H became iconic for. It also meant Loretta Swit's character was unshackled and grew from being purely antagonistic to a far more sympathetic role.

It was never the same without Shannon Docherty

I feel really sad for Jennifer Lien. A while back (2008ish) I googled her to see what she was up to because I kinda had a crush on her and OMG. Those "unspecified personal issues" were obviously mental and they left her looking totally unrecognizable just a few short years after she left the show (I would hate to see what she looks like now). From memory her erratic behavior had gotten her into legal trouble and she really needed to have been committed because she had totally lost the plot. She looked like one of those homeless ladies that push around a shopping trolley.

Couple of complaints...aside from the actors listed not technically meeting the "replacement" criteria due to playing different characters to those they 'replaced'...Shannen's surname is pronounced Doe-Her-Tee, not whatever you said, and the Jeri Ryan's Star Trek character's name is Seven OF Nine, not Seven Nine.

Bob Saget replaced another actor in Full House. They shot the original pilot with the other actor, then quickly replaced him with Bob Saget, and reshot the pilot.

Night Court: Bailiff Selma Hacker (played by Selma Diamond) being replaced after her death by Rosalind 'Roz' Russell (Marsha Warfield).

@innagottadavida8538

8 ай бұрын

Selma (Selma Diamond) died and was replaced by Flo (Florence Halop) who died and was replaced by Roz (Marsha Warfield). I guess after losing two gravelly voiced old ladies, the show decided to go with a younger actress. Selma was brilliant, Flo was decent and Marsha was pretty good.

@natsune09

8 ай бұрын

@@innagottadavida8538 Its been so long since I watched the show, I totally forgot about Flo

These are more character replacements than actor replacements

Amy Yasback replaced Farrah Forke on Wings. Great move.

Do I really need to say it? William Shatner replacing Jeffrey Hunter in the original Star Trek.

I liked coach (Damon wayans Jr.), but Winston was hilarious

Was there a movie/series about Charlie's behind the scenes drama? It seems implied by this video. If so, what was it called and when did it come out?

Pierce Hawthorne is an iconic tv character, and while it seems impossible to replace him? Buzz Hickey AND Elroy Patashnik were extremely welcome additions to the final two seasons of Community

I really enjoyed the 'accents around the world with Ewan' game, I heard, American, Irish, London and a touch of South African... I never watched 'Spordacus', and didn't think that any of the replacements were particularly 'bedd'r'...

If you go down the "pilot show" line... Star Trek Voyager... Captain Janeway was originally a Canadian French actress who lasted about 2 days before she quit....

Many on this list are character replacements, not actor replacements. Weird to combine the two in one list.

I can't imagine anyone else as Rodrick Usher. Loved the show.

Jerry Stiller will always be the best part of Seinfeld

Probably out of scope for the video, but you could include these Film-to-TV-Show adaptations recastings: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Kristy Swanson (Film), Sarah Michelle Gellar (TV Show). Stargate (Film) Kurt Russell (O'Neil), James Spader (Daniel Jackson), SG-1 (TV show): Richard Dean Anderson (O'Neill), Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson). And yes "O'Neill" with two "L's" so a different character with a similar (but not the same) name?